Myanmar: UN Officials Warn Crisis Is Deepening, Conditions for Rohingya Return Do Not Exist
Senior UN officials warned at the 29th meeting of the UN General Assembly's Third Committee in October that Myanmar's political, humanitarian and human rights crises continue to deteriorate, with escalating military airstrikes, widespread civilian suffering, growing displacement and no conditions for the safe return of Rohingya refugees. Special Envoy Julie Bishop, Independent Investigative Mechanism head Nicholas Koumjian and Special Rapporteur Kelley E. Currie briefed member states.
Bishop said the humanitarian situation remained dire, especially for Rohingya refugees and those still living in Rakhine State. She said Bangladesh was hosting more than 1.3 million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar and described the suffering she had seen on a recent visit to the camps in Cox's Bazar. Conditions for safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return do not exist, she told the committee.
The meeting focused on the deteriorating security situation, alleged international crimes, humanitarian access, accountability and the continuing plight of Rohingya refugees, and Currie delivered a strong assessment of the military's conduct and the international response.
Myanmar has been in civil war since the 2021 military coup. ASEAN's special envoy met Myanmar's foreign minister in Naypyitaw on October 29 to discuss the war and aid access, as GSM reported earlier; the UN's latest assessment shows no sign of easing.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 照片：孟加拉国科克斯巴扎尔库图帕朗难民营，John Owens 摄（美国之音），Wikimedia Commons，公共领域 / Photo: Kutupalong refugee camp, by John Owens (VOA), Wikimedia Commons, public domain
